[16] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS RECTOR OF PRISHTINE UNIVERSITY AND VICE-
RECTORS OF TETOVA UNIVERSITY

[01] LAW ON DISTRIBUTION OF BANK ASSETS OF PYRAMID SCHEME FOUNDATIONS
APPROVED

TIRANA, JAN 30 (ATA) - By Atlant Frasheri: Albanian Parliament approved
through an accelerated procedure in a sitting held today evening, the law
"On distribution of the bank assets of the foundations which have practiced
fraudulent pyramid schemes."

The distribution will be made on the basis of the investment. For the
return of the deposit, the coefficient which comes out from the ratio of
the total value of the investors' deposits with the total value of the
asset of the foundations, separately for the immovables and separately for
the movables, will be taken into consideration.

Finance Minister Ridvan Bode, after the adoption of the law, said
that its aim is that these procedures come out of the normal procedures of
the companies' bankruptcy, because if the normal procedures were followed,
then the question of deposits would be resolved by court, and this would
take a lot of time because the number of savers is rather great. "This
would not be in the interest of the investors," said Bode.

"We shall see the most efficient way to realise the distribution of
the money, in cash of through savings cards, taking care that this
distribution be not accompanied with inflation."

Regarding the return of the distribution, to be observed is the date
when the money is deposited and which exists in the foundations registers,
making exceptions only for the most needy people.

The distribution of the frozen deposits to investors will be made by
commissions set up by the government.

Bode said that the distribution of the immovable assets of the
founders and the leaders of the foundations, of those who have worked in
these foundations and who are proven to have had a direct cooperation with
these foundations, will be left for a second stage.

The law leaves without final decision by the Council of Ministers the
turn and the places for the money distribution, and the right for appeal to
government commissions by those people who would not find their names in
the foundation lists, and who with authentic documents which cannot be
changed, prove that they have deposited their money in the foundations.
For this category, Bode says that "the distribution of money to these
people will be made later, on the basis of the incomes from the immovable
assets. A second distribution will be made after the sequestration and
their selling in auctions when their value will finally come out, because
this value cannot be defined before-handed".

These operations are under the supervision of the government commissions,
in which along with the Premier and Ministers, will take part the Attorney
General's Office, the Bank of Albania, directors of state banks of the
second level where these foundations have deposited their money, in order
not to create conditions and possibilities of abuse during the distribution
process.

Meanwhile, according to Bode, "the government commissions will
supervise continuously the loan-taking companies, which have economic
activities"./pas/mt/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA) By Eva Allushi: The conference of the Rectors of
the Albanian Universities, which convened Thursday in Tirana, analyzed the
changes taken place in Albania during its opening towards the world, made a
synthesis of the current situation of the universities and formulated the
objectives for the future.

The conference supported the reform undertaken by the Albanian
government for the high education and the scientific research in Albania
during 1996-2000. It expressed the support by all means of the Pristina
University, and asked the institutionalization of the Tetova University.

The Conference of the Universities' Rectors expressed the engagement
that the objectives of this conference will serve as an "intellectual
compass", and a starting point for other activities of the Albanian
universities. /pas/mt/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

TIRANA, JAN 30 (ATA) - By R Floqi: The Republican Party today presented
in the round table of the parties a declaration which would serve as a
basis of the discussion for a solution to the situation after the collapse
of some pyramid schemes..

The declaration was generally considered as concrete and constructive.
The Socialist Party strongly opposed the point 10 which opposes the
withdrawal of the government.

SP and left opposition, profiting from the economic difficulties the
country is passing after the collapse of pyramid schemes, has required the
withdrawal of the government and the creation of a technical government
which would open the way to early elections.

The declaration of the republicans said that the government should
continue working and accomplish the pledge that the frozen money would
start to be distributed on February 5, 1997. It also adds that the stand of
the Republican Party on this issue will depend on how it develops.

The 14 point declaration demands that public institutions be guarded
and an unhesitating punishment for the culprits of the fires set and the
destructions. The declaration asks that state officials who allowed the
torching of institutions bear responsibility, and a full transparency and
daily information on the development of matters in all directions.

"Stop to great politization of the issue of pyramid schemes which
sparkles fresh tensions," says the Republican declaration. It also demands
an urgent technical assistance by the World Bank and crediting assistance
by European structures in order to reduce the losses and for an all-sided
encouragement of the national production.

The declaration calls for continuous talks among the parties, aiming
at a joint stand of the political forces on the way how to come out of the
crisis.

"Anyone who wants to distance himself from this goal acts counter to
the country's interests," says the declaration. The economic and political
collapse is a real threat to all. The Republican Party holds that the round
table must work out a program of the issues to be examined."

The party representatives said they needed time for consultations
with their parties regarding the republican declaration, but they did not
agree on the date of the coming meeting. pas/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

Some 20 000 citizens of Vlora city (southwestern Albania) organized
Thursday a peaceful rally in the square in front of the town hall to
protest against the barbarous violence, fires and destructions exercised in
Vlora in the rally of January 26the, led by forces of the left extreme.
During this rally in Vlora the town hall was set on fire and destructed, a
building which had resisted to the two big wars with foreign invaders.

In this rally also spoke the chairman of the former politically
prosecuted democrats association, representatives of the Democratic Party
Youth Forum, students of the "Ismail Qemali" University, and others, who
condemned by force the cruel and barbarous violence exercised in the
building of the town hall and the district council of Vlora. They called on
the Vlora people to help voluntarily in the reconstruction of the town
hall. /eva/mt/E/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA) - In an interview with Albanian Television,
the director of the Albanian National Commercial Bank, Eduard Ypi, said
that Xhaferri Foundation functioned on the basis of pyramid schemes.

"Resources of Xhaferri are completely the deposits of his investors.
We have not yet found any cheque, or invoice to prove that a foreign or
local foundation has invested money for the account of Xhaferri," said Ypi.
eva/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] KOHA JONE CALLS ON INVESTORS TO "TAKE" THEIR MONEY FROM GJALLICA
FIRM

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA) - Koha Jone has for some days now been telling
investors of the half-collapsed firm Gjallica to gather to take their money
from the firm on February 6, (at a time when well-informed sources say that
Gjallica has nothing to distribute to its investors,) writes Albania
Friday.

"Without citing any sources from the firm or mentioning any financial
guarantee, Koha Jone is trying to send as many people as possible by the
counters of the Gjallica so that their disillusion provoke again a tense
and violent situation in Vlora or other cities of Albania," writes the
paper.

On January 24, the Vlora district court decided to announce the
beginning of the bankrupt procedure for the trade firm, Gjallica. The firm
has also gathered credits from savers, mainly in southern Albania.
eva/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

PRISHTINE, JAN 31 (ATA) - Respect for democracy and human rights in the
so-called FR of Yugoslavia is essential for the peace and stability in the
Balkans and for the observation of the Dayton Accord, says a resolution
approved by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the
situation in the "FR of Yugoslavia," Information Centre of Kosova reports
referring to Radio Deutche Velle.

According to the above radio, two special points of this resolution
are devoted to the question of Kosova. The text of the resolution says that
"The Assembly voices its deep concern on the general situation in Kosova,
it denounces the recent incidents and warns that any escalation of the
violence would bring about grave consequences for the 'FRY' and the
region."

The Council of Europe also attaches importance to the cooperation
with the Hague Court by the rump Yugoslavia, and conditions the cooperation
with the institutions of former-Yugoslavia with the execution of the above
mentioned policies. At the same time, it expects the opposition be clearly
committed to respect democracy and human rights in Kosova, Voivodina and
Sandjak, and for the complete implementation of the Dayton Accord.

The report said that many parliamentarians of the Council of Europe
stressed in their debates that the stands of the Serb opposition leaders
towards the Dayton Accord, the pending national questions and especially
towards Kosova, are not completely clear. The Serb opposition is asked to
prepare a clear program about the democratic transformation of Serbia and
with an alternative towards Milosevic. pta/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA) - The dailies, with the exception of Koha Jone, write
about the burial ceremony of Cardinal Mikel Koliqi held yesterday in
Shkodra. Hence, Rilindja Demokratike writes that "The people of Shkodra bid
last farewell to Cardinal Mikel Koliqi," under the title "Koliqi - the
distinguished man of Albanian Catholic Church." Zeri i Popullit has an
article "Albania's first Cardinal Mikel Koliqi buried," whereas Republika
writes "Mass conducted for Cardinal Koliqi."

"The last travel for the Cardinal" writes Gazeta Shqiptare about the
funeral ceremony for Koliqi held in Shkodra yesterday.

"Parliament adopts the law on the return of the frozen funds," writes
Rilindja Dmokratike with a subtitle "Return of the money to investors
guaranteed." The paper carries the law with 12 articles passed yesterday by
the parliament, law which defined the ways how the frozen funds of pyramid
schemes will be distributed to investors.

In the feature "Reflections," the paper carries the article entitled
"Old messages and appeals in a new situation," with the subtitle "SOS! by
Milosevic in Belgrade; fire to Albania by its allies in Tirana." "Political
forces sit again in a round table for talks," writes the paper, stressing
that Socialists are divided in two with regard to a continuous round
table.

Zeri i Popullit writes under the headline "Report of the U.S. State
Department, on the human rights in Albania for 1996," carries the article
"Albania - big regressive steps for democracy." The paper writes that since
the very beginning, the report concludes that "Albania is a Parliamentary
Republic with a parliament elected in a seriously affected process."

Under the title "European right wing goes crazy," the paper writes
that "declarations by representatives of the European right wing seem to be
crazy."

The word is for the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe which demanded from the Albanian opposition to take part
in the sittings of the Parliament. The Assembly also asked that the new
constitution be worked out by a Parliamentary Commission and did not demand
new elections to be held.

The paper also has another article entitled "The Council of Europe
values fraudulent reforms of Tirana." Right wing deputies of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the CE did this when they considered as accomplished the
commitments that Albania had undertaken when it was accepted a CE member in
1995," writes the paper.

The article is illustrated with two photos, with the inscription "Two
most renowned ladies in Albania." One of the photos is that of Sude, the
former president of the pyramid scheme SUDE, and actually detained by
police under charges for fraud, and the other photo is that of Mrs Leni
Fischer, chairwoman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe.

"The criminals of the criminal state against the opposition", is
another article published by the paper. Under the headline "The imprisonment
of the peaceful protesters and SP leaders in districts aims to hide the
real criminals who burnt and destructed Albania", the paper publishes the
article "The immediate setting free of them - the first evidence that the
state is not involved in the crime".

"VEFA starts distributing the capitals", reports Republika paper. The
paper carries a statement of the Republican Party Leading Committee. "The
deep crisis which exploited with usuries is not treated with technical
competence and self-control. The very grave situation can be facilitated
only with open dialogue and transparency in every step", says the statement
among others. There are presented the 14 points that the RP Leading
Committee suggests to the political forces and government.

Under the headline "The insistence for violence of the political
extremes continues", Sindikalisti paper publishes the article "The
emancipation, historic obligation of the new Albanian policy". The paper
entitles its editorial "The violent insistence against the government,
primitiveness of those who provoke it...".

"Military troops lifted up from the protection of objects", reports
Rilindja. Under the headline "From the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe" the paper reports "Violence in Kosova condemned".

"Extremists on the road of violence" is the editorial of Albania paper.
"The efforts to politicize law implementation on these organizers and
executors should be another effort to give a false description on
Albania".

Under the headline "IMF: No money to the firms which operates with
pyramid schemes", the paper carries the article "Alimuca: We are only
distributing money". "Since January 20th the company has closed the
accounts with loan-takings" - said Alimuca.

"The draft-law to reimburse the creditors of foundations passes through
parliament", reports Dita Informacion. The paper publishes the article
"Usuries: victims, anti-rallies and detentions".

Under the headline "The operation for the verification of the
foundations' documents continues", Gazeta Shqiptare publishes the article
"Xhaferri: No money are missing". The paper cites Rrapush Xhaferri,
president of "Demokracia Popullore" foundation from Tirana jail to have
said "Don't allow politics manipulate you. Take care of documents".
/kled/xh/mt/E/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

PRISHTINE, JAN 31 (ATA) - U.S. congressman Eliot Angel, co-chairman
of the Albanian-American Council in the U.S. Congress, spoke of the right
for self-determination of the Albanians of Kosova in a meeting held some
days ago by this council of Brooklyn, reports Information Centre of Kosova
referring to the newspaper Illyria.

Angel pointed out that "the option circulating about the autonomy of
Kosova in the framework of the rump Yugoslavia is consumed, at a time when
former Yugoslavia does not exist any longer."

"The question of Kosova will be solved only if the will of the people
for Kosova to be an independent state is observed," said the U.S.
congressman, adding that "then it is up to the Albanians of Kosova to unite,
if they want, with Albania." "I would like to be the first American
Ambassador in the capital of the Republic of Kosova, Prishtine," said Eliot
Angel. pta/pas/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA) - "I don't see any tendency for political crisis in
Albania", said in an interview for Gazeta Shqiptare on Friday, the Chairman
of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Leni Fischer, asked
whether there is any sign of a political crisis in Albania.

In an answer to the question whether the Government has its own
responsibility for this situation, Fischer says "I cannot say that it is
guilty, as long as we don't know the situation in Albania from the very
beginning. I think that the political parties are exploiting the situation
to find any guilty person".

"We should not complicate the situation with the tendencies to
politicize it (the situation). The important thing is to find an urgent
solution in order to give an end to the destructions and people's revolts",
said in the interview for Gazeta Shqiptare the chairman of the Council of
Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Leni Fischer. /kled/mt/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA)- The National Blood Transfusion Centre declares with
responsibility that "over this month there has been no additional number of
blood donors."

This statement, the spokesman of the Ministry of Health announces, is
linked with several media reports that in Albania the number of paid blood
donors to cope with the economic effects caused by the collapse of the
cheating foundations, has increased.

The spokesman says that the National Blood Transfusion Centre, in full
conformity with the policy of the Ministry of Health and Environment, has
long since been implementing a programme to limit the paid blood donation
in favour of its voluntary donation.

"Once again we declare with responsibility that we have no additional
number of the persons asking to donate blood for payment," the spokesman of
the Ministry of Health concludes. s.sh/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA)-Newspaper Dita Informacion of January 30 carries a
confutation regarding an inaccuracy on an interview it carries on January
28.

This inaccuracy stands precisely in the name of the interviewed who was
unjustly said to be Mr. Manol Konomi, actually a member of the Constitutional
Court. The paper said Konomi was "participant in the January 26 rally in
Tirana". In its confutation, the paper begs pardon to Mr Konomi, who was
not participant in Sunday's rally.

With the desire to find fault with as much honest people as possible,
who have no connection with the violent protest of the left forces last
Sunday at the main square in Tirana, the newspaper Dita Informacion
interviewed people without knowing their identity.

The paper confutes itself under the justification of "a mistake in a
situation like that of Sunday's demonstration, based on a physical
similarity." kled/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

TIRANA, JAN 31 9ATA)- The Bank of Albania, closely following the latest
financial and monetary developments, decided at a regular meeting of the
Supervising Council to increase interest rates for deposits in lek.

So, the interest rates for three month deposits will be 20.5 per cent,
for six month deposits 21 per cent and 12 month deposits 22 per cent. These
are the minimum interest rate levels necessarily to be applied by bank
affiliates.

The Bank of Albania will also intervene at moments it considers
appropriate in order to maintain a macro-economic stability. In this
context the Bank of Albania is closely cooperating with the Finance
Ministry and other institutions. s.sh/jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

The study and maintenance of wetlands will be the topic of a meeting to
be held in Tirana on the occasion of February 2, the International Day of
Wetlands, according to the spokesman of the Ministry of Health and
Environment.

This day is commemorated for the first time in Albania, under the
auspices of the Ministry of Health and the Environmental Protection
Committee.

The Convention "On Wetlands" is signed by 96 states of the world.

Albania has been member of this convention since March 29, 1996. The
area protected in this context is the lagoon of Karavasta, Southwestern
Albania, for whose study and maintenance the World Bank has financed two
million dollars.

During 1997 another project, in the framework of the PHARE Programme,
intends to "discipline" the sewages in the villages around the lagoon of
Karavasta. kled/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA)- By E.Allushi, The Tirana Court today examined the
request of the prosecutor's offices of the Lushnja and Berat districts, and
issued arrest orders for 32 persons, detained by the Lushnja district
police, and 46 persons detained by the Berat district police.

These persons are accused of carrying out violent acts against public
property through theft, damage and destruction, with the intention to
disturb public order and arouse massive panic and uncertainty.

This charge, according to article 231 of the Penal Code, envisages no
less than 15 years imprisonment as well as a fine for the damage caused.

In the districts of Lushnja, Berat, Vlora and other districts violent
acts have been committed against public property recently, incited by
extreme left forces. s.sh/jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS RECTOR OF PRISHTINE UNIVERSITY AND VICE-
RECTORS OF TETOVA UNIVERSITY

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA)- President of the Republic Sali Berisha met today with
the rector of the Prishtine University, Prof. Dr. Ejup Statovci, and the
vice-rectors of the Tetova University, Prof. Dr. Murtezan Ismaili and Prof.
Dr. Agni Dika, the press and information office close to the President of
the Republic reports.

Berisha expressed delight at the cooperation established between the
Albanian universities and greatly appreciated their very significant and
comprehensive role in the life of our nation. The relations between the
Albanian universities should cover all fields, Berisha said.

"We are determined to double the number of students by the year 2000,"
he said.

The participants in the meeting expressed gratitude for Berisha's
continuous support of the university cooperation as a whole. s.sh/jz/lm/z/